Ex-Disney exec to lead Guru’s production team

The prodco has brought on former Disney exec Kara Lord Piersimoni as VP of production, as well as ex-Spin Master brand manager Daniel Rattner.

Toronto-based Guru Studio has hired former Disney executive Kara Lord Piersimoni (pictured) as its new VP of production, as well as Daniel Rattner, who is now senior director of marketing and branding for the company.

Lord Piersimoni has worked in production across children’s entertainment for 20 years including stints at Walt Disney Feature Animation, Digital Domain and DisneyToon Studios. Most recently, she served as executive producer for the Warner Animation Group, working on the LEGO movie franchise. Lord Piersimoni is now be responsible for managing Guru’s production operations and related activities.

Rattner, meanwhile, has more than a decade of marketing and brand-development experience, most recently as the director of marketing for Mazu, a safe online experience for young fans. Previously, he served as global brand manager at Spin Master, where he worked on boys action toy brands. At Guru, he’s overseeing corporate marketing and communications strategy and leading promotional campaigns for the studio’s animated and interactive IPs.

Guru is currently working on the third season of the Netflix original series True and the Rainbow Kingdom, which will launch in 2019. It is produced in partnership with Pharrell Williams’ label, I am OTHER, fine art collective FriendsWithYou and Home Plate Entertainment. The show recently signed Massachusetts-based toyco Toy State as master toy licensee, which plans to release branded products in fall 2018.